Rob Lang's Blog

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

A Dignified Transfer

It is the phrase that officials of the Dover Air Force Base use as the bodies of soldiers killed in action are brought to the base, and then "transferred" to the soldier's family.

Wednesday afternoon, I stood in the sun on the runway of the base, just two hours from Baltimore, to witness the return of the bodies of Marine Sgt. Michael Heede Junior of Edgewood and Marine Staff Sgt. David Spicer of Olney.

Some observations on what I saw on the runway.

First, we were able to witness the "dignified transfer" because earlier this year the White House lifted the ban on having the media observe these proceedings, only if the families of the deceased allow it. In this case, we can thank the Heede and Spicer family for allowing us in the media to attend. They didn't have to do this, but this does help us tell an important story.

Next, these transfers are handled by the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center which is based at Dover. Officials at the center, known as AFMAO, stress that these transfers are not formal ceremonies. None of the Marines who carried both bodies from a plane to a truck parked on the runway were wearing dress uniforms. There is no music, and nothing is spoken except for a prayer said by a chaplain.

Next, the bodies are not brought back to Dover in coffins. They arrive in flag draped "transfer cases." In fact, AFMAO Captain Heather Garrett told me that the bodies are usually in the same condition as they were found on the battlefield. There are still personal effects on the bodies. Those are collected by AFMAO personnel, and then turned over to the soldier's family, who also receive the body for burial. Other personal effects which are in the military's possession are collected at the Aberdeen Proving Ground and then given to the family. The collection for the other personal effects will move to Dover in 2011.

Next, while Marines carried the bodies Wednesday, different branches of the military provide anywhere from 6 to 8 members of their service when one of their own is brought back to Dover.

When the bodies arrive at Dover, family members stand not far from where reporters and photographers stand, in order to observe the proceedings. However, on Wednesday, a parked bus separated these families from the media on the runaway. One of the conditions placed on the media is that we cannot interview family members on the base, before or after the ceremony. An Air Force Tech Sergeant told me that these restrictions are in place to preserve the "dignity" of the event. Family members can be interviewed off the base.

Regardless of how you feel about the Wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, you can't help but be moved at this ceremony. I had an Air Force Sergeant who drove us to the runway tell me that he is hoping for the day when there is no longer the need for these transfers. Since early April there have been more than 100 of these transfers at Dover. Officials say more parents of fallen soldiers are making their way to Dover to see the return of their loved ones.